Jan. 11—JAMESTOWN — The No. 24-ranked University of Jamestown women’s basketball team struggled shooting in the second half and it cost them in a 74-72 loss to No. 6-ranked Dakota State University on Saturday, Jan. 11, at Harold Newman Arena.
The Jimmies (13-3, 3-2) shot 37.5% from the field and 12% from three in the final two quarters whereas the Trojans shot 50% from the field and 50% from three in the second half.
The first quarter was an offensive explosion in the first quarter with the Jimmies taking a 21-16 lead into the second. The Jimmies shot 47.1% from the field and 50% from three in the opening ten minutes while the Trojans (13-3, 5-0) shot 53.8% from the field and 16.7% from three. The offenses were not the only ones making a difference in the opening quarter though as the Jimmies scored five points off six turnovers and the Trojans scored four points off four turnovers. The rebounding battle was also competitive with the Jimmies outrebounding their opponents 9-8.
The rebounding battle continued to play a big role in the game in the second when the Jimmies were outrebounded 12-10 but had seven defensive rebounds to the Trojans six. In the first half, the Jimmies had nine second-chance points and held the Trojans to five. The Jimmies headed into the half with some momentum on their side thanks to a Kate Cordes jumper to give her team a 43-34 lead heading into the break.
The third quarter was a heavyweight battle with both teams trading shots throughout, culminating in the Trojans’ Tabor Teel hitting one of three free throws to bring it closer at 58-56 with 0.5 seconds to go in the quarter. It did not appear to be the case early on though when the Jimmies got out to a 48-34 lead. However, a timeout from the Trojans with 6:59 to go in the third quarter and the Jimmies winning by the aforementioned 48-34 scoreline completely flipped the game on its head. Out of the stoppage, the Trojans got a stop and then hit a three to bring it closer at 48-37. The Trojans kept it up from there bringing it to within single digits and with 0.5 seconds to go in the quarter, they had a chance to tie the game up when Tabor Teel was fouled on a three pointer down 58-55. However, the junior only hit one of three to send the game to the fourth quarter with the Jimmies up 58-56.
The Trojans took their first lead of the day 62-60 and pushed it all the way out to 72-62 before the Jimmies’ Kate Cordes hit a jumper to bring it back to single digits at 72-64. The hosts would keep fighting and forced multiple turnovers down the stretch but they could not complete the comeback with a Samantha Paulsen buzzer-beating jumper saw the Jimmies fall just short.
After the early third-quarter timeout, the Trojans outscored the Jimmies 40-24.
The Jimmies were helped late in this game by the Trojans’ free throw shooting with the visitors shooting 5-for-10 from the stripe in the second half and going 2-for-5 in the fourth quarter.
The Jimmies are back in action at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, when they host Mayville State.
DSU 74, UJ 72
DSU: 16 18 22 18 — 74
UJ: 21 22 15 14 — 72
